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Tag: PDP

  • PDP will bring defectors back, Jonathan assures

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was working hard to reclaim the state, which he described as important being the most political conscious state in the north.

    Jonathan, who was in Kano to inaugurate the N2.5 billion fly-over named after the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, said the PDP was determined to use the forthcoming election to correct the defections of some party members to the opposition.

    According to him, the PDP has put up all machineries in motion to correct all the wrongs and bring back members that left the party.

    He also described Kano as very important to the nation’s economy as the commercial nerve centre of the north, promising that if given a second chance, the federal government will improve the value of the state in terms of commerce and industry and agriculture.

    The president said: “We love the Kano people; we will work with you so that you don’t only get the groundnut pyramid back but to process it so that things we produce in our farms and forest, what we get from our soil has to be processed and add value to it so that we can create jobs and wealth for our people.

    “That is why we are very happy that the Kano people believe in  leading the PDP. So, there are some movements recently but in the coming elections I know we can use it to correct these wrong movements.

    “We are not exploiting the people of Kano, we are ready to work and add value to these people. You are the people we love so much.”

  • PDP plans to unleash terror on our leaders, Ondo APC alleges

    AHEAD of next Saturday’s presidential elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend alleged that some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Idanre local government area of Ondo State are planning to unleash terror on its leaders before and after the elections.

    The party further alleged that some of its leaders have been pencilled down for assassination, arrest and kidnapping before the elections.

    These leaders include Chief Pius Akinyelure, its Deputy National Chairman; State Deputy Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and the Chairman of the party in Idanre local government, Chief Ojo Alalabiaye among others.

    Addressing reporters at the party secretariat in Idanre, the APC chairman, in Idanre alleged that the meeting where the plot was hatched was held at Ala, the ward of Dr. Kola Ademujimi, Chief of Staff to the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

    The APC chieftain further alleged that some PDP chieftains have paid huge sums of money to thugs to hijack the voting process and rig the elections in favour of the PDP in the community.

    But in his reaction, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, who is also an indigene of the town, denied the allegation, saying APC leaders in Idanre have no electoral value to threaten the PDP in the area.

    He said, “There have been no political violence in Idanre; these APC leaders have no electoral value. In the last governorship election in the state, their party came a distant third and since then, nothing has changed.”

  • PDP can’t win by sharing dollars, says APC

    PDP can’t win by sharing dollars, says APC

    …36 party image makers express concern over Army, police role in elections

    All Progressives Party (APC) state publicity secretaries yesterday expressed concern over the proposed troops deployment for elections by the Federal Government, saying that the security agencies may be used to manipulate the elections.

    The image makers, under the umbrella of the APC Conference of State Publicity Secretaries, also berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for instigating campaigns of calumny against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, who has insisted on conducting credible elections.

    The PROs, who stormed Lagos for their second summit, complained that the attempt by soldiers to displace the police in the maintenance of law and order during elections is unconstitutional. Lagos State Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Hon. Lateef Raji saluted their loyalty and steadfastness, urging them to sustain the tempo till the elections.

    He said: “This is a critical time for you. But, you now need to inform and educate Nigerians that the dollars being shared by the President and the PDP are the money that should be used to build roads, construct bridges and fix the power sector. You should also resist intimidation by the PDP in your states.”

    The Chairman of the conference, Comrade Joe Igbokwe of Lagos State, noted that anxiety is mounting over the proposed deployment of troops, contrary to Jega’s advice, who has insisted that soldiers should not be on election duty.

    He said the recent revelation about the scandalous rigging of the Ekiti State governorship election have cast doubt over the neutrality and devotion to professionalism by soldiers during elections under the Jonathan regime.

    Igbokwe added: “The army was used in an extensive manner to rig the Ekiti State governorship election, the fact of which is emerging from the scandalous Ekiti rigging tape leak. The Army, DSS and the police were inordinately used in the attempt to rig the Osun governorship election, but that plot failed because of the vigilance and determination of our people.

    “While we insist that the Army and other security forces should not be used to manipulate the election for the PDP, we charge state publicity secretaries to, as a matter of urgency, educate our members and supporters across the country to stand firm and resolute to defeat any attempt to intimidate them during elections. We must refocus energy in using the remaining one week to prepare our people not to give in to intimidation by either the Army or the police or the DSS in their determination to effect change in the elections.”

    Flaying the Presidency and the PDP for campaign of calumny against Jega, Igbokwe said efforts were being made to discredit the umpire because of his refusal to dance to their tunes.

    He described as bizarre and potentially dangerous the use of outlawed organisations and ethnic militias, including the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to intimidate and terrorise the populace to support the agitation for Jega’s sack.

    Igbokwe said, while MASSOB staged a show of shame in the Southeast, OPC disrupted socio-economic activities in Lagos, molested law abiding citizens and destroyed APC campaign materials along Stadium/Ikorodu Road.

    The Publicity Secretary added: “Jega is being persecuted by the PDP and its acolytes for insisting that a credible election should be held. There is a devilish machination by a desperate failed party to remain in power. The protests and criticisms of Jega are unfounded tactics the PDP wants to use to frustrate Jega and the PDP and manipulate the election in its favour or scuttle it because it is obvious that they cannot win in a free and fair elections.”

    Stressing that the future of Nigeria depends on the elections, Igbokwe said the credibility of the exercise depends on Jega’s leadership of the INEC.

    The Publicity Secretary also said that the monetisation of the electoral process by the Presidency and the PDP will be counter-productive, adding that the sharing of dollars to compromised stakeholders cannot save him from electoral defeat.

    He added: “The President himself has lost confidence in the naira. He is now talking in dollars, euro and pound sterling. He is ready to buy anybody at whatever price to ensure that he remains in power. How many Nigerians will Dr. Jonathan reach with dollars? The dollar sharing is an admission of failure and this regime must be sent out by all means, unless it can reach the 170 million poverty-ridden Nigerians with these dollars.”

  • PDP working to plunge Nigeria into war- Group

    Buhari Support Organisation, the umbrella body of all support groups working for the election of the APC Presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari has accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of working very hard to plunge the country into a war that will make both Burundi and Rwandan genocide a child’s play.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja and signed by its Director of Media, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, the Buhari Support group said the PDP under President Jonathan was a clear danger to the nation.

    Dr, Maduekwe said that Nigerians and the international community should hold the PDP responsible for any breach of security in Nigeria with these open sponsorship of armed militia today under the guidance of the government.

    He alleged that there was a plan by the ruling party, working with anti-democratic elements to ignite another round of confusion aimed at causing stalemate and national emergency as we approach the presidential elections, adding that Information at its disposal suggest that the renewed plan to heat up the polity is expected to provide the presidency and their spin doctors another excuse at ensuring that the Election does not hold as planned and subsequently forcing Prof. Jega out from office.

    He said: “We totally abhor all effort directed at forcing INEC and most specifically the Chairman , Prof Attahiru Jega to jettison the use of card reader that will ensure transparency of this election. We have it on good authority that the INEC Chairman was summoned to the villa and serious pressure and blackmail mounted on him to either resign or stop the use of the globally accepted card reader.

    “We recently witnessed thousands of Odua Peoples Congress and the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians members using armed thugs and gunshots renting the air to intimidate Lagosians. They took over major roads in Lagos on Monday demanding the sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    “We sadly observed that the demonstrators, wielded broken bottles and knives. The National Coordinator of the OPC, Chief Gani Adams, led the protest under the cover of security agents of this great nation.

    “This protest is certainly in line with the N9bn allegedly given to the OPC and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra by Jonathan to disrupt the elections. The police and soldiers conveniently looked the other way, giving credence to the suspicion that they might have been state sponsored hooligans.

    “The PDP is desperate to plunge the country into a war that will make both Rwanda and Burundi a child’s play considering the mix of the country’s population.  PDP under Mr. President is a clear and present danger and we make bold to alert the world to hold the PDP responsible for any breach of security in Nigeria with these open sponsorship of armed militia today under the guidance of the government.

  • Is PDP edging for the abyss?

    SIR: The dirty happenings in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot bring about a new era in Nigeria’s political landscape. Having lost many of its

    top members to the opposition parties with the dramatic exit of PDP’s first presidential flag bearer, Olusegun Obasanjo, being undoubtedly one of the biggest blows to the party. Yet again, greater shocks could emerge in the long run as many more politicians are likely to decamp. But whilst a lot of Nigerians believe it is over for the PDP, it is possible that nature has presented an opportunity for us to rid ourselves of the very cycle of politicians who have led us to this pitiable state.

    The issue of corruption is behind the fast evolving collapse of the PDP. Many of its defected politicians have accused the PDP of breeding corruption and encouraging injustice. In a bid to woo voters, the major opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), cleverly devised a very appealing slogan, “Change”. It is true that Nigerians want “change”. But the people in APC should be prepared to guarantee real change when they get to power, otherwise, the whole essence of this electoral struggle would have been defeated.

    Coming back to the PDP, one cannot deny that it still remains a formidable party. The recent events in the PDP are indications of a great purge. The party is being sanitized and its system is gradually opening for credible thoroughbred individuals to participate in its politics in future, not this near general elections. As the case is, the PDP is presently searching for members to cover for its loss.

    And as Prof. Wole Soyinka puts it, “…we cannot continue this cycle of repetitious evil and irresponsibility”. We must not be saddled by the same set of people if we want to prosper.

    When Plato wrote, “until Philosophers are Kings or Kings are Philosophers, leadership will never be right,” he meant to say that until self-developed individuals become leaders, nothing will work. Nigeria deserves credible people as leaders.  As regards Obasanjo’s exit from the PDP, I would take that as good news for Nigeria because political godfathers have proven to be major hindrances to our national prosperity.

    Nigeria needs credible individuals who would rise to the pedestal to move the country to the First World. As a nation, we must make the best use of this opportunity in the political space and bring in the new face of

    Nigeria’s politics. But can President Jonathan and the PDP provide the opportunity for the new set of Nigerian leaders? We must be patient to find out.

     

    • Prince C. Ifoh, B. A. Hons. Prince Ifoh” <prince.ifoh@gmail.com

  • Jonathan and PDP’s desecration of Yoruba Land

    President Goodluck Jonathan seems to have taken personal abode in the southwest in the last three weeks. With little or nothing to sell to a people he has treated with absolute contempt in the last six years, he has, according to his political detractors, been distributing loads of naira and dollars to youth, religious and women groups, and even traditional leaders. And for his pains and despite his abysmal record of performance, is counting on these groups to win the coming presidential election with farcical endorsement after endorsement.

    We have seen him surrounded by traditional rulers receiving blessing with royal walking sticks menacingly pointed at him. Last Monday, of all days, his paid supporters, led by OPC leaders, alleged to have received N9b contract along with others, visited untold sufferings on Lagosians as they ‘wielded broken bottles and knives; destroyed bill boards while walking, on foot and in about 100 buses on the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ikorodu Road to Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere’.

    Penultimate Tuesday, PDP governors had complimented the president’s desperate efforts. They assembled in Eko Le Meridian hotel; Victoria Island where, as an answer to PDP’s six years of baleful legacy, ditched out hideous lies, told horrific tales and made odious comparisons. They spoke of Jonathan and PDP commitment to democratic values. They claimed: “PDP abhors corruption in all its ramifications”. They insisted: “PDP has done a lot in the fighting of corruption since the inception of democracy to date.” They therefore sought Yoruba support to ensure the “Sustenance of Democratic Values and National Development”.  These PDP governors seem to have forgotten they were not addressing Nigeriens, Chadians or Cameroonians but the direct victims of 16 years of PDP mismanagement; of documented PDP mindless looting of our common wealth through such self serving policy thrusts as PPPRA and fuel subsidy regime, privatization programme described by the House of Representatives’ report as ‘giving away of national assets at next to nothing”, and monetization policy that allowed the sharing of our national patrimony dating back to the colonial period by few members of the governing elite and their friends.

    At the head of PDP governor’s team was Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, the generous giver who has acquired all professional honours and chieftaincy titles money and influence can buy. Others include Reverend Jonah Jang of Plateau who lost the original Governors Forum election by 16 to 19 but lacking the grace to concede defeat, crowned himself winner and proceeded to church to thank God for giving him victory. There was   Babangida Aliyu of Niger, the self styled ‘Chief servants of the people,’ who talks more from both sides of the mouth; Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Obasanjo anointed successor to Jonathan whose ambition collapsed following EFCC arrest of his two sons for money laundry. Also on the team was Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, the serial defector who is often attracted by the highest bidder and of course there was Ayo Fayose, a former impeached governor of Ekiti who has found his way back to the Government House through a flawed election as shown by the ongoing ‘Ekitigate’ and who is yet to establish his innocence after 53 appearances in court over his  EFCC charges of  mismanagement of N19b  Ekiti state fund.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Akpabio talked vaguely about what he termed the president and PDP achievements on war against corruption. But for Babangida Aliyu, the Chief ‘servant of the people’, probably realizing Jonathan is a bad product, chose to attack APC and Buhari, its flag bearer.  APC, a party he once hobnobbed with, he said was ‘a product of hate, frustration and anger’. He accused some of its leaders of ‘corruption’. He alleged money was used to influence the emergence of Buhari as APC candidate. And finally, he mischievously claimed Buhari was planning to spend only one term and this according to him will amount to shortchanging the north that should ordinarily be entitled to two terms.

    I think Nigerians and northerners in particular should be ashamed of leaders like Babangida Aliyu. Here is a northern leader who is unwilling to confront President Jonathan he had accused of reneging on an agreement with northern governors but now wants northerners to believe he is fighting their battle by fabricating lies to stop Buhari, another northerner contesting on the platform of another party. Groveling Babangida Aliyu not too long ago told Nigerians that he was the custodian of the secret document allegedly signed by President Jonathan to spend only six years. If he needed help, Obasanjo who publicly accused Jonathan of reneging on an undertaking to spend six years has strengthened Aliyu’s case.

    But curiously, Aliyu, who was part of northern governors who sold out in 2011 when Jonathan secured PDP ticket by default, Aliyu who is the leader of today’s incoherent Northern governors;  and who like all PDP leading light, are dealers and wheelers, now says they and Jonathan, their nemesis, are the true friends of the north while Buhari who most Nigerians today are counting on to rescue our nation is the enemy of the north. He is saying the interest of the north can only be protected by stopping Buhari a northerner from becoming president and not by stopping Jonathan he had claimed betrayed an agreement he signed with northern governors. With friends like Aliyu Babangida and the groveling northern governors, the north doesn’t need enemies.

    Just like incoherent Aliyu Babangida, Sule Lamido avoided dissipating energy on a bad product which will be a hard sell among enlightened people of Lagos and south west. He chose to introduce a game of mischief instead. He accused Buhari of keeping quiet as chairman of PTF while Abacha looted the nation’s treasury.  But Nigerians know Buharis’s oversight functions, as chairman of PTF did not cover the CBN. In any case, it is now facts of our history that the then CBN governor and Abacha’s minister of Finance, Chief Michael Ani aided Abacha in looting the CBN. Lamido avoided the painful fact that today, our country is adjudged one of the most corrupt nations on earth and that he has been part of PDP’s 16 years of locust. If we needed any proof of that, the politically motivated arrest of his two sons for money laundering at a time he expressed interest in the presidency was all president Jonathan needed to remind Nigerians that Lamido is a loyal member of PDP family that lives on the blood of Nigerians.

    As for Ayo Fayose, he has never been interested in selling Jonathan. He is haunted more by the prospect of a Buhari presidency. And we can understand his apprehensions. It is only under a Jonathan presidency we can have an Ayo Fayose with his liabilities, who but for the slow pace at which the wheel of justice grinds in our country,’ -apologies to President Jonathan, could have been behind bars, pontificating over how and who rules Nigeria. And Olusegun Mimiko, his Ondo state counterpart, whose attempt at dragging Yoruba Obas to partisan politics is a reflection of his lack of understanding of Yoruba culture, has nothing he holds sacred. If Buhari wins the coming election, as a survivalist who believes in nothing, he will crawl back to APC.

    On March 28, President Jonathan will reap the wages of investing on miscreants and those the Yoruba describe as ‘akotileta’ (seller of clan for a pot of porridge). As Awo observed in his autobiography, the Yoruba will not vote for you just because you are Yoruba if you have no manifesto that maps out strategies to address their future fears and anxieties. Those miscreants who are accomplices in today’s desecration of our land must remember Yoruba have a way of ensuring those who sow the wind reap the whirl wind, no matter how long it takes.

  • Nasko: PDP will continue to rule Niger

    Nasko: PDP will continue to rule Niger

    For almost 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rule in Niger State. The party believes it has laid a solid foundation for and development its 40 year-old governorship candidate Umar Mohammed Nasko told JIDE ORINTUNSIN in Minna, the state capital, that a vacancy does not exist in the Government House. He also infolded his plans for the state.

    Governorship candidates and political parties in Niger State have signed a non-violence. How will you ensure that your supporters adhere strictly to the pact?

    It is obvious that lack of understanding about the tenets of democracy is attributable to the rising levels of violence in our political landscape. The irony of it is that the young people that have formed themselves into weapons of mass destruction are neither card-carrying members of any political party or holders of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). But they are young people, who are looking for jobs and they are ignorantly cashing on that to harass, intimidate and cause confusion in order to extort money from would-be candidates. For us and for our party, the PDP, we will continue to preach peace and tolerance. We are honourable and we shall hold to the tenets of the agreement signed.

    It is on record that in our campaigns across the 25 local government areas of the state and indeed, our party have not engaged in any violently act. Even when the campaign train of the PDP was attacked in some places, when our billboards and posters were destroyed, we never raised a dust. This is because the PDP government believes it is only in the presence of peace that unity and progress can be achieved. It is only a peaceful conduct that can guarantee credible and transparent elections. The PDP does not want to engage with those that create problem, they can only use PDP as a scapegoat.  However, we are very confident that the PDP will continue to provide a level playing ground for other political parties in Niger state but the other parties must respect due diligence and rule of law in their quest for power. We are not afraid of their intimidation and harassment.

    How would you take the comparative advantage of the land mass of the state to develop agriculture? 

    It is no longer news that Niger State has the largest land mass in the country and we have already, as the PDP government,  embarked on mass agricultural transformation, in line with the federal government agricultural transformation agenda. The Niger State agricultural mechanization that has been rebound after the mechanization by the World Bank has been rejuvenated. The only way we can move away from the micro land production is to engage in large scale enterprise to invest in the sector.  This we have started with Dangote Group. The present administration made available 50 hectares of land to the group for rice and sugar production. Some investors are in Niger State already trying to leverage on the out growers scheme of our rice farmers by establishing rice mills for mass production of qualitative rice.

    Niger State is already in the front seat in driving agriculture to commercial level from micro agriculture. In order to encourage our farmers to produce more, we will guarantee and ensure farm produce attract good prices to serve as an incentive for farmers to go into more production.

    On irrigation, we have found out that only two of the 18 irrigation sites in the state are functioning. We are going to look into this with the aim of addressing and re-activating the remaining 16 sites. This we believe when perfected will boost irrigation farming and ensure the produce of crops all year round instead of the current seasonal farming.

    If we are able to maximise that, Niger State will retain her front seat in agriculture.

    Another area that will be accorded priority is the encouragement of the establishment of small and medium scale agro-industries that will promptly accommodate the skills of our local people and youths. Local Government-based farm settlements will be established all over the State, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and its agencies, especially the Niger State Agriculture and Mechanization Development Authority (NAMDA) will be strengthened towards realizing our agriculture transformation agenda.

    We shall also strengthen the Micro-finance banks to enhance access to soft loans by farmers while providing access roads to ease transportation of farm produce and enhance efficient marketing system where farmers would benefit maximally.

    Niger state economy is dependent on federal allocation, What are you going to do differently to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)? 

    The state Internal Revenue Service will be strengthened to enhance our revenue generation capacity for improved service delivery. We must begin to explore alternative sources of internal revenue generation to break out from the vicious circle of perpetual dependence on FAAC allocation.

    Our arts, culture and tourism potentials will be explored to create additional income streams for the State.

    We shall appeal to every stakeholder in our development drive for an attitudinal change towards prompt payment of tax. We will also leverage on land, which is our valued asset. A new valuation policy will come on land so that we will open corridors of development between the state, Abuja and all the high neighbouring developing states.

    PDP has been in power in the state since 1999. What are you going to do differently from the present PDP administration?

    The mandate we are seeking is aimed at consolidating on the gains recorded by the Chief Servant, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, whose achievements will serve as the springboard for higher performance. What defines a good democratic system is the access and equal opportunities available to all stakeholders. If given the mandate, we shall carry everyone and every part of the state along, ensuring even development across the state. We shall uphold the trust and confidence reposed in us, by living up to expectations and even beyond the call of duty.

    In addition to sustaining the laudable policy initiatives and fully implementing the transformational projects of the present administration, we will create an investment corridor in Niger State to attract foreign direct investments that will leverage on our vast economic resources for the actualization of Vision 3-2020. Our economic development blue print will be anchored on the agriculture sector, where we shall exploit our comparative advantages of abundant arable land and consolidate on the value chain in Rice, Yam, Cereals, Fisheries and livestock development across the State.

    One area that guarantees development is education. What will be your policy trust for this sector?

    Education sector will remain the bedrock of our strategic development agenda for the realization of Vision 3-2020. We shall therefore, not only strengthen all existing policies in the sector – such as free education, free NECO or WAEC examination fees, increased bursary allowances, etc., but also build additional schools and expand existing infrastructure to sustain the tempo of increased pupils’ enrolments and the standard of quality educational services.

    Our Technical Schools will be improved upon to produce quality furniture for all schools in the State, as we shall encourage them to be more innovative and creative while delivering on the contents of their curriculum.

    On the whole, our education policy at primary and secondary levels shall seek to improve infrastructure, create conducive environment for learning, and ensure the safety of all pupils/students as well as teaching and non-teaching staff in our schools. Similarly, we shall employ more qualified teachers and supporting staff and ensure regular monitoring of schools by strengthening the inspectorate division of the Ministries of Basic and Tertiary Education.

    Meanwhile, the giant strides achieved in the repositioning of our tertiary educational institutions, especially IBB University, Lapai will be consolidated and improved upon. Adequate funding of all tertiary educational institutions will be a major priority, as we shall pay more attention to the strategic growth of IBB University as a world-class centre of academic excellence and the smooth take-off of the University of Education, Minna. Our two State Universities will be properly and firmly positioned to compete favourably within the national and international university community.

    You are the youngest governorship candidate in the country. What are your plans for the youths?

    This is my immediate constituents – the teeming, energetic, vibrant, articulate and dynamic youth of Niger State. Majority of them engage in some of the difficult tasks that keep our state safe, clean and growing. They constitute the productive segments of the public service, especially the workforce in the vigilante corps, who keep vigil over our streets and national assets, when many of us may be deep asleep in the comfort of our homes; the community traffic wardens, who assist in keeping the chaotic traffic conditions of our urban centres in control; the forestry guards, who patrol our forests, at great risk to check the activities of economic saboteurs and environmental tyrants; and the sanitary inspectors, who are assisting in enforcing the sanitary laws for our well being.

    Undoubtedly, the future of any nation depends on the quality and vibrancy of the youth, who constitute over 60 percent of our national population.

  • PDP can’t win by brigandage, says APC

    PDP can’t win by brigandage, says APC

    …Party flays OPC for vandalisation of campaign materials

    Lagos State All progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the wanton vandalisation of its billboards, banners, posters and other campaign materials by factional members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) during its anti-Jega protest in Lagos on Monday.

    The party lamented that the group led by Otunba Gani Adams behaved as paid mercenaries acting the script of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that its display of violence and crudity underscored the party’s penchant for brigandage and intimidation.

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, alleged that OPC is in league with the PDP in its desperation for power.

    He said the PDP cannot win power in Lagos through brigandage, repression and intimidation of prospective voters.

    Igbokwe condemned the protest by the group, recalling that it disrupted socio-economic activities in the metropolis for hours.

    He added: “Particularly outrageous was the unprovoked attack on the APC, whose campaign posters and materials were destroyed by this rampaging purchased mob and people bearing insignia of the OPC. Cars bearing flags, stickers and posters of the APC were attacked violently by agents of a party now gasping for breath after woefully failing Nigerians for sixteen years.

    “We see this as a daring provocation and an outright call for war, in a bid by the PDP and its hired OPC mercenaries to scuttle the elections because it is clear that it cannot fraudulently have its way with Nigerians.”

    ”We see the disgraceful outing on the streets of Lagos as a show of  desperation and frustration. No party can try that brigandage in an area where it claims it has support. The shameful protest was a syndicated plan by the PDP to scuttle the elections and is a hallmark of President Jonathan’s relocation to Lagos to dispense patronage  and induce voters.”

    Igbokwe said it is worrisome that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP could instigate militias and outlaws to visit violence and mayhem on Nigerians out of desperation for power, thereby disrupting the peace of Lagos.

    He also berated the Presidency and the PDP for hate campaigns, propaganda, lies and fabrications, stressing that it underscored the frustration of a ruling party heading towards electoral defeat.

    Igbokwe faulted the protest by the OPC, saying that it is illogical for the group to demand for the sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, who has insisted on credible elections.

    He said: “The election cannot be won by brigandage. Why is the PDP against card readers? What is their grouse with Jega? What do they

    The Publicity Secretary emphasised that the PDP has jeopardised national security by inducing ethnic militia to create mayhem in its bid to grab power through the back door.

    He added: “What surprised us was that these outlaws, who were wielding dangerous weapons and visiting violence on the streets of Lagos, were being serenaded throughout their violent voyage by fully armed policemen, who provided them shield as they were destroying APC banners, billboards and posters and attacking anybody with APC insignia.

    “We note that the police never acted or restrained these purchased mercenaries throughout the period they were destroying APC materials. We wonder whether the Police was part of the violent demonstration.”

    Igbokwe urged Lagosians to remain calm, saying that judgment day is at hand. He urged them to revenge on the election day by rejecting the PDP.

    He added: “We call on all to resist the evil plot of the PDP to plunge Nigeria into violence as a way of sabotaging the critical election but treasure their PVCs as a weapon to send home a bad, failed and corrupt government on March 28.

    ”While we call the police and other security agencies to do their legal duties of prosecuting the vandals sponsored to unleash violence in Lagos and destroy APC campaign materials. Lagos APC strongly warn that nobody should test the will of Lagosians as a people that have withstood arrays of bad governments and this government will not be an exception.

     

  • Court replaces PDP governorship candidate in Borno

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has faulted the choice of Mohammed Imam as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a judgment Wednesday, declared illegal the decision by the party’s leadership to nominate Imam as against Gambo Lawan, who won the party’s primary.

    The judge, whose judgment was in the suit by Lawan, declared the plaintiff as the authentic flag bearer of the PDP for the April 11 governorship elections.

    Justice Mohammed ordered the PDP to replace Imam with Lawan as its candidate.

    He also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Lawan as the PDP’s candidate for the election.

    Justice Mohammed, who dismissed the objection raised against the suit by Imam, PDP and INEC, held that the plaintiff effectively proved that he contested and won the party’s primary election conducted on December 11, 2015 at Arewa Suits in Abuja.

    He further held that Section 87(4) of the Electoral Act provides that a political party is under obligation to forward the name of aspirants with the highest votes at its primary election to the INEC it’s as candidate for an election.

    The judge, who faulted the party’s claim that its choice of Iman as a consensus candidate was because the security situation in the state, which prevented a proper primary, held that the plaintiff was right to have approached the court on PDP’s  failure to forward his name to INEC as its candidate.

    Justice Mohammed held that the PDP failed to support, with documentary evidence, showing the resolution of the party members that a consensus candidate be chosen in place of the plaintiff because of the security situation in the state.

    The judge noted that the plaintiff tendered before the court, the date and results of the primary election of the party conducted in Abuja and endorsed by the PDP’s National Chairman, National Secretary, National Organizing Secretary and the Returning Officer.

    He said the evidence produced by the plaintiff, were sufficient to persuade the court to ignore PDP’s submission that there was no primary election for the purpose of electing the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

    “In view of the above, I find merit in the plaintiff’s suit and I hereby grant all the reliefs in the originating summons of the plaintiff,” Justice Mohammed said.

  • Knocks for Jonathan, PDP over OPC’s Lagos protest

    Knocks for Jonathan, PDP over OPC’s Lagos protest

    Lagosians recovered yesterday from the hangover of Monday’s pro-Goodluck Jonathan protest that crippled parts of the city to condemn the marchers and their sponsors.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola led the castigation of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)-led protests.

    Members of the outlawed group, acting under security cover, smashed their way through Ikorodu Road while campaigning for President Jonathan’s re-election and calling for the removal of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    They roughened up motorists who did not get out of their way quickly and smashed All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign billboards.

    Besides, the traffic jam caused by their protest got motorists and commuters stuck for hours.

    Leaders of the OPC factions Dr. Frederick Fasehun and Chief Gani Adams are among those given the controversial N9billion pipelines surveillance contract by the Federal Government.

    The Lagos State House of Assembly, various Yoruba groups, Lagos West APC senatorial candidate Solomon Adeola, among others, also condemned the action.

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state denied it all. Its spokesman Gani Taofeek said: ‘We are not involved. It is not the tradition of the PDP.”

    In fact, he blamed the protest on the APC.

    The governor, who spoke at an agricultural ceremony, said the behaviour of Jonathan’s supporters who destroyed campaign billboards and smashed citizens’ cars, is the difference between, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Yesterday, I received telephone calls, text messages from residents who explained to me. I am sorry about the pain and trauma they put you through but the residents consistently complained yesterday that they were traumatised by those people who supposedly were carrying out a rally in support of the President and their gubernatorial candidate.”

    “So instead of canvassing for your votes and showing you why their record of service is better, they were showing you knives, cudgels and dangerous weapons. Some residents phoned that they were banging on their cars. Yesterday they also showed the difference between us,” Fashola said. (Continued on Page 2)